Have Scientists Found a Secret Chord for Happy Songs?
We can explain the meaning of lyrics by looking at their component words and grammatical structure. But how do we explain the meaning of music?
The following essay is reprinted with permission from The Conversation, an online publication covering the latest research.
In the BBC radio comedy show I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, panellists are sometimes asked to sing “one song to the tune of another”. Hilarious results ensue when the words of one song fit the rhythm and metre of the other but they have completely different sentiments: Jabberwocky and Jerusalem, for example. The game works because audiences recognise the disconnect between the sentiment of the lyrics and the music. Everyone knows that a good tune needs not just to fit the rhythm of the words but to convey something appropriate to their meaning./.../
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